Folding car-step.



PATENTED MAY '12, 1903.

N.GRAY. FOLDING GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. 1903.

"H0 MODEL.

I INVENTOI? A TTOFNE Y8.

W/ T/VE SSE 8 new: mans c0. mowirma. WASWNGYDN, w. 0.

THE

UNiTED STATES 'ATENT Patented Me 12, 1903.

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,097, dated May 12,1903.

Application filed February 4, 1903. Serial 115141.790. (N0 model.)

T0 ctZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON GRAY,a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Louisville, in the county of Jefiferson and State of Kentucky, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Folding (Jar-Steps, of which the following is a'specification.

My invention is an improvement in carsteps, and has for an object a novel construction and combination of. parts whereby the folding car-step may, together with the vestibule-door, entirely close the outer side of the vestibule when the folding step-section is closed and by which the folding step-section may be closed through the aid of a trapdoor forming an extension of the car-platform when properly adjusted, as presently described; and the invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the car-step embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is averit'ical section in the direction of length of the car on about line-2 2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the step, showing the folding step-section opened for. use and the vestibule-door and trap-door also opened, while Fig. 4 isaview similar to Fig. 3, except that the folding step-section is closed and the vestibule-door and trap-door are also closed.

Referring to Fig. 1, the car A has the platform B, the fixed step-section C, and the vestibule-door D, the latter being hinged at-D, so it may be opened tothe position shown in Fig. 3 or closed to the position shown in Fig. 4. The trap-door E is hinged at E and may be opened to rest against the end of the car A or be closed to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, in which it will form a continuation of the platform B, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings. When the trapdoor E is opened and the vestibule-door D is also opened, such door D'will overlie the trapdoor, and its fastenings may operate to secure the trap-door E in.open upright position, as

will be understood from Fig. 3 of the drawings. As shown" in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, the vestibule-door D extends at its lower end below the plane of the platform B and trap-door E, so that it cooperates with the tread of the section-F has the tread, F

folding step-section in closing the outer end of the steps when the parts are-adjusted as shown in Fig. 4,'and at the same timeoverlies the pivot and upper portion of the operating-rocker, presently-described, when the foldingjcar-"step is adjusted to position for use, as shown in Fig. 3. The folding stepandthe riser F and is braced when lowered toposition for use by the bracket G, (See Figs. 3 and 4.) The step-section F is provided with the crank extension or arm H, which extends in position for engagement byone end Iof a rocker I, which rocker is pivoted at e and is connected by a link J with the trap-door E, so the movement of the trap -door from open to closed position may move the rocker in-such manner as to cause the latter to operate the folding step section. As shown and preferred,'the rocker I is in the form of abell crank lever, one arm of which provides the end I for engagement with the crankextension of the folding step section, while its other arm connects with the link J, asshown in the drawings.

In the operation of my invention it willbe noticed that when the parts are in the-position shown in Fig. 4"the trap-door operates to hold the foldingstep-section in. closed position-and also operates as a means/to resist any inwardv movement of thewestibule-door D. It now 'it' is desired to-use the steps, it

is only necessary to raise. the trap-door from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to a verticalpositiomwhen the step-sectionF will automatically adjust from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3, when the vestibule-door maybe openedand the steps. and other parts will be as shown in Fig. 3- and in position for use in enteringor leaving the car.

It will be understood from Fig. 4 that the vestibule is entirely closed when'the folding step-section and vestibuleFdoor are closed, so that snow and the like cannot enter the steps, and there is no danger of the parts becoming frozen in position.

The free end of the arm I 'may be provided with a roller 11, as shown in Figs. 1, 3,, and 4, to engage the arm H and relieve friction in the operation of the device.

Having thus described my invention, what LCD I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the vestibule-door, the fixed platform-section, the trap-door arranged when closed to form an extension of the fixed platform -section and for adjustment when open behind the open vestibuledoor, the fixed step-section, the folding stepsection having a crank extension or arm, the bell-crank having one arm arranged to engage with the crank extension or arm of the folding step-section and a link connecting the trap-door with the other arm of the bellcrank lever substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus substantially as described the combination of the fixed stepsection, the folding step-section, the trapdoor arranged when closed to cover the space above said steps, the rocker between the trapdoor and the folding step-section and arranged to operate the latter, and means whereby the trap-door may operate the rocker substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the fixed step-section, the foldingstep-section havinga crank extension or arm, the bell-crank lever having outer end of the steps when the vestibuledoor is closed substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the platform and the fixed step-section of the trap-door, the vestibule-door, and the folding step-section, and a rocker arranged between the trap-door and folding step-section and arranged to operate the folding step-section and a link connecting the rocker with the platform whereby it may be operated by the movement of the platform substantially as set forth.

NELSON GRAY. \Vitn esses:

F. B. GRAY, N. L. GRAY. 

